Book 5, Chapter 10 Summary

The army from Gondor sets out from Minas Tirith to make their hopeless assault on the Black Gate and Gandalf, Pippin, Gimli, and Legolas join them. They reach the crossroads with the headless king and restore his head, including the crown of flowers.

After seven days of marching, the small army reaches the Black Gate. There, the Mouth of Sauron comes out to parley with Aragorn and Gandalf and, as proof that the hobbit has failed, he shows them Frodo's mail shirt, Sam's sword, and an elven cloak. Then the messenger gives them their terms of surrender. However, Gandalf, as spokesman, refuses them.

As the Mouth of Sauron rushes back, the Black Gate opens and orcs pour out of Mordor as men and orcs run down from the mountains on either side of the army. The small army is quickly surrounded...